Vehicle-wheel.



Patented J an. 31

Arm/MaeA unir 'i i, ,i o A, 1

WILLIAM: J. STRAIGHT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLEVHEEI.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Jan. 3i, )mit Application filed December V16, 1568. Serial No, 467,765.

provc-inents in Vehicle-Wheels, of which. theAA 4following is a specification.

'lfhis invention relates to Wheels for vehicles, consisting of an improvement of the type of Wheels generally=-known as elastic or spring Wheels in which the hub inember and the tread orouter member of the.

wheel are arranged independently to permit a movement relative to each othe1 in a verticai plane and being provided with a resilient element interposed between said members to absorb the shocks and vibrations to which.

the outer or tread member is subjected. The object of this arrangement being to substitute' in place of the pneumatic tire treads commonly employed a pneumatic resilient device suitably inclosed so as to be free from the wear and liability oi puncture to which the ordinaryA tire tread is subject.

The object of the present invention is to produce a Wheel adapted successfully to inset the requirements of a Wheel of this character which will be comparatively simple in con struction, strong and durable, With little possibility ot the parts becoming disarranged, and adapted to permit the greatest possible resiliency.`

To this end l construct my Wheei as shown in the accompanying drawings in which the reference numerals of the description designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

ln the drawings Figure l is a side elevation showing a Wheei employing my invention with portions bro-ken away to illustrate the' interior construction thereof. Fig is an enlarged vertical crossssection vien7 of Fig. l on line Q42. `Figs. 3 and 4i are details, Fig. 3 being partial perspective vien7 showing the Wedge-segment. and protecting-piece as employed and Fig'. i a par tial vienv showing the sliding plate and its connecting bar in rear elevation. 4

'ln the n'gures l indicates the usual 'wheels rim to which the spokes 2 are attached, the spokes as shown being arrengeil et their inner ends to form a continuous inelosing ring for the hub member and resilient element, and secured in this position by the circular bearingplates Lloppositely `arranged and connect-ed by bolts 5 having se curing nuts 6, said bolts being preferably an.

ranged around the Wheel as shown with a bolt passing through each of the spokes; the plates, spokes and rim thus forming an integral outer or tread member around Which may be arranged a suitable tire or tread for instance a solid rubber tire 7, as shown, suitably arranged on the rim. lVithin this outer vmember is arranged the inner or hub member having sideflanges arranged to form with the inner 'ianges lli-l0 ot' the bearing plates 4, an inclosing box 'for the reception of the resilient eiement. To this end the hub 12, journaled on the usual axle lli is provided on one side with the disk flange 15 having its inner face engaging near its pe riphery with the outer surface of one of the ianges l0, said hub 4being provided with a reduced bearing endt on its opposite end on which is journaled a corresponding disk flange 18 having a 'horizontal bearing flange 19 iitting the bearing end 16 of the hub.

Siirrounding jthe hub between the two iiange disks the resilient member consisting of an outer shoe 2O or hard rubber of circular form is arranged. rifhis shoe is referably rectangular in cross section anu split around its outer periphery as slew-n at 22, to permit the insertion of an inner pneumatic tube Q3 withln'its interior, the outer shoe having a suitable interior recess 25 therefor,

Elo prevent turning of the hub Within the resilient element or the outer Wheel member thereon which would Wear out the shoe eventually and tear out the valve stem., it is desirable that the three part;s rotate 'together- This i accomplish by providing the shoe with wedge pico e on its inner :and outer peripherai surfaces adapted to engage the respective i and outer members. is shown ythe e-oieces 28 arranged on the the i l l inner peripheral surface ot the shoe and Wedgeepieees 30 on the outer geripheral sur-- face thereof Xtend transverseiy across able flore-tailed n the hub-rmjy and. rczesses 32.1. -c outer member beingprovided ttor this pi- Y '"ose. it

VwillV inns be seen that y,the keyed at 35i-te the hub, the members and the resilient e tac-hed to rotatein unison by the employment of the wedge pieces which being dovetailed into the respective members insures against their disengagement, Whether the pneumatic tube is 'fuliy intlated or not, thus huh and outer lements are atl b-ring permitting the pressure within said tube to be regulated to suit the conditions under which the wheel is to be used, without danger of disarranging the parts.

As best shown in Fig. 3, to attach the Wedge-pieces to the shoe I employ protect` ing plates 38 adapted to be inserted within the shoe outside the inner-tube and secured to the wedge-'pieces by screw-studs 39 passing through the shoe, one on'either side of the slot therein, thus securelyyclamping the shoe between the wedge and plate, the plate then actingas a protector for the inner tube` It is necessary in wheels of this character that means b e provided to relieve the lateral strain produced on the resilientelement, par

I -ticularly when the hub is carried on a driving axle, in that under the construction as far as described the said element is the sole connecting means between the hub and outer members and therefore subject to the entire strain of propelling. I therefore have provided an independent connection between the inner or hub-member and the outer member whereby said members are positively secured together independent vof the resilient element, the connection being adaptedto permit the necessary vertical movement of the members with relation to one another. As shown this connecting meansl consists of bars 40 arranged preferably in pairs onl either side of the wheel and arranged whereby the connecting bars are proportioned at 45o around the wheel alternately on either side thereof. These bars are arranged within the flange disks l5 and 1S in suitable recesses 41 provided therefor and pivotally secured to the hub ring 30 and extend toa point about one third' around the wheel where they are pivotally attached at 43 to the slides 45 sliding in the slide-waysv 46 formed in the inner surface of slide-plates 48 secured on the bearing plates 4-4 The slide-bar 45 is provided with shoulders 50 on its inner en d to engage the slide-plate shoulders 51 to limit the slide thereof and to prevent its Wit-hdrawal.

Bolts 55 passing through the flange disks y 1.5-18 and through the hub ring 30 are'provided with securing nuts 56 whereby the disks are clamped in frictional engagement with the bearing plates 4 to resist side pressure of the wheel. Vulcanite plates 57 may be arranged between the bearing-plates and disks to lessen the friction between them and the' hub may be journaledto rotate on the usual ball bearings 60 fitting suitable ballraces between the hub and the axle and the hub may be secured thereon between the axle flange'l and the usual `securing' nut 62. If desired a lacing 64 may be used as shown in Fig. 3 to lace the shoe together after the insertion of the inner tube to protect the valve stem, not shown.

I have thus produced a resilient wheel in of the connecting bars, also by t-he construc-` tionof wedge-pieces the parts are retained in position under all conditions, permitting` the inflation of the resilient element to suit the various conditions under which the wheel is employed whereby the resiliency can be regulated as' desired, not depending on the pressure therein to hold any of the parts together.

Having thus described my invention, what I- claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent is l. In a vehicle wheel having an inner hub member and an outer traction member surrounding said inner member and adapted to move in relation thereto in a vertical plane, a resilient element interposed between said inner and outer members, said resilient elcment comprising an outer shoe of elastic material having a circumferential slot therein for the insertion of an inner tube and a recess therefor, an inner pneumatic tube arranged within sai-d recess, wedge-pieces arranged transversely of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the shoe and tted to dove-tailed key-ways in the respective inner and outer members, and protecting plates arranged within the shoe recess outside of the inner tube, said plates and wedge-pieces being connected by studs passing through the shoe wherebythe shoe is connected to both the inner and outer members.

2. Avwheel for vehicles having an inner hub member and in combination therewith an outer wheel member, bearing plates on the outer member having inwardly extending flanges, vertically extending flange disks on the hub-member in frictional engagement with the said flanges, the disks and lianges' bers, a resilient element arranged therein,

said element comprising an outer slice ot' elastic material having a circumferential slot therein for the insertion of an inner tube anda recess therefor, an inner pneumatic tube arranged in said recess, wedge-pieces arranged transversely of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces ofthe shoe and fitted to doveftailed key-ways in the respective inner and outer members, protecting plates arranged within the shoe recess outside of the inner tube, said plates and wedge-pieces being connected by studs passing through the shoe whereby the shoe is connected to both the inner and outer'members, slide-Way platesI arranged on the bearing-plates, slides arranged to slide therein, and connecting bars connectedv to said slides and to the inner hub-member Where-by thev hub and outer wheel-members are connected to rotate together. f

A vehicle .Wheel having an inner hubmember and an outer traction-member sur' rounding .said inner member. and adapted to move in relation thereto in a vertical plane, having in combination a hub having a vertically extending `flange-disk on its inner end and av reduced bearing portion on its outer end, a similar Harige-disk journaled A on said bearing, a hub ring keyed to the hub Within the disks, an'outer Wheel rim having a tire thereon, spokes connected to said rim and radiating thereto, said spokes forming at their inner ends a continuous ring, bearing-plates securing the spokes in place and having inwardly extending tianges there! from, said flanges being Within the flangedisks and in frictional engagement therewith whereby there is formed a circular inclosure for a resilientv element between the hub. and spoke rings, a resilient element arranged therein, said element .comprising an louter shoe of elastic material having a circumferential slot therein for the insertion of an inner tube and a recess therefor, an inner pneumatic tube arranged in said recess, Wedge-pieces arranged transversely on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the shoe and fitted to dove-tailed key-ways in the respective hub and spoke rings, protecting plates arranged within the shoe recess outside of the inner tube, said plates and Wedge-pieces being connected by studs passing through the shoe whereby the shoe is connected to both the hub and spoke rings, slide-Way plates arranged alternately on the inner and outer bearing plates and spaced equi-distant, slidesv arranged to slide therein andconnect-ing bars connecting said slides Vto the hub ring arranged within the flange- ,disks, the iange-disks being suitably recessed therefor.

4:. In a vehicle Wheel having an inner hub member, an outer traction member surrounding the inner member and a resilient element interposed between the said members, said resilient element comprising an outer rubber shoe-and an innerpneurnatic tube,

means to connect the shoe to the'outer member, means to connect the shoe to the lnner member, said outer member being formed with slide-ways, slides fitted .to said slideways, and metallic bars each pivotally connected atl its respective ends to thel inner member and to a slide, said bars forming direct eonnection's'between the inner member and the outer member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.'

XVILLIAM J. STRAIGHT.

Witnesses CHARLES C. SPENCER, EDWARD J. GREEN. 

